ATLANTA, Georgia (Atlanta News First) – A fox caught in a fight with a dog in Griffin last Monday was diagnosed with rabies, according to the Spalding County Health Department.
Officials said the encounter occurred in the Ivy Road area. The dog’s condition is currently unknown.
Kelly Wilson, Spalding County’s environmental health manager, said the incident is a reminder for the community to be alert to animals exhibiting strange behavior.
“If you see a wild or nocturnal animal running around during the day and the animal does not appear to show fear of people or is acting sick or abnormal, the animal could be infected with rabies,” she said. “Therefore, people should avoid the animal and report it to the local health department or animal control.”
Rabies is a central nervous system infection that is almost always fatal in humans if left untreated. It is usually transmitted through a bite and its symptoms include fever and headache before progressing to confusion, hallucinations and excessive salivation.
Spalding County authorities recommend calling animal control at (770) 229-9911 or the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division at (800) 366-2661 if you see a suspected rabid animal. If it interacts with a human or pet, immediately call animal control or the Spalding County Environmental Health Office at (770) 467-4230.
Georgia law requires owners to have their dogs, cats and ferrets vaccinated, and if a pet is bitten by a potentially rabid animal, it may have to undergo a 10-day quarantine.
Click here to learn more about rabies.
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